Arm-rest for crutches.



A. G. LINEBAGK.

ARM REST FOR CHUTCHES. APPLlcAnoN man No.1. 1915*.

mzm mm July 19u.

Nentran srAansf-rnranr onirica.

ALVAHNG. LINEBACK, .or FALLS CITY, OREGON, Asselvon or on'nLFoUn'rn To farine R. CHAMBERS, ONE-recare To IDA DAVENPORT, Ann ONE-FOURTH ro sAaAi-r LINEBACK, ALL 02E ALBANY, OREGON.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, ALVAII Gr. LINEBACK, citizen of the United States of America, residing at Falls City, Ain the. county of Polk and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Arm-Rests for Crutches; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as` vwill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to crutches and has for its object to provide an etlicient and durable cushion for the head or arm rest of a crutch.

' Another object is the provision of a cushion or the head of a crutch of hollow elastic formation adapted to be inflated with air to increase the resiliency' and etliciency thereof. 'Another object is the provision of a pneumatic cushion for the heads of crutches and novel and efficient means for reliably securing the cushion in position upon the head.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a side elevatiompartly broken away and partly in section, of the head portion of a crutch constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 represents 'a transverse sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 represents a fragmental sectional View through one end of the crutch head and cushion, illustrating a slightly modified form of the latter.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 indicates the head of a crutch, which, as usual, is curved from end to end and is secured to the 'upper extremities of the uprights or standards 6. The upper or concave face of the head 5 is formed with a longitudinal groove 7 in which is seated the cushion designated gen erally by the numeral 8 and preferably formed of rubber or other similar elastic material. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the body of yspecification of .Letters Patent the cushion 8 is of tubular formationruhich is seated in the groove 'l' 1n thehead and 1s preferably .termed with closed ends il of increased thickness and having integral en!` largements or flanges 10.at the extremities thereof.. i

The central portion ot the body ofthe cushion 8 is formed with an aperture registering with an aperture 11 formed'cen' trally and transversely through the head 5 in which is mounted a hollow valve casing 12 having a head 13 at one end arranged within the bodyof the cushion to clamp the latter in the groove 7 when the nut 14 is advanced upon the external threads of the casing 12 against the lower recessed face of lthe head A suitable cement or adhesive is preferably applied between the groove 7 and the lower portion ot the cushion 8 to secure the latter in pos1tion on the head 5, and the medial portion of the cushion is reliably se-y cured in'positlon by the valve casing 12,'

head 13 and nut 14. A suitable spring actuated check valve, similar to those used in connection with pneumatic tires, is arranged in the valve easing 12 to'prevent the escape of air from the hollow body of the Acushion S as the latter is being inflated, and a cap or guard 15 is removably fitted upon-the lower extremity of the valve casing l2 to prevent admission of dirt and the like to the interior thereof.

A pair of clamps 16 are positioned over the closed ends 9 of the cushion and also encircle the extremities of the head 5'. The clamps 16 are preferably formed of metallic straps having the free ends 17 apertured to receive a bolt 1S on thethreaded extremity of which is litted a nut 19, whereby the i Patented lilly 3, 1.91"?. l Application filed December 1, 1915. Serial No. 64,516. i

straps 1G may be drawn tightly to secure the ends of the cushion 8 to the ends of the head 5. As illustra/ted in Fig. l the clamps 1G are arranged slightly inwardly of the annular enlargements 10 on the body oiE the cushion 8, and said enlargements constitute abutments for enga-gement with the clamps 1G to prevent inward movement or the apertured extremities of the cushion relative to the head 5. V

Referring tothe modification of the inyention illustrated in Fig. 3 the body ,8% of the cushion is of hollow tubular fornire Mill* tion formed with open ends in which are cemented or otherwise secured plugs 20 preferably formed of rubber. The plugs 20 extend a distance inwardly of the tubular body 8a and the clamps 16a are engaged around the body 8at at a point Where the pressure exerted thereby will be received upon the plugs Q0. Reinforcing bands .21 are secured around the extremities of the tubular bodyv 8 outwardly of the clamps 1G for strengthening and reinforcing the cushion.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided an efficient andinexpensive pneumatic cushion for crutches which will be extremely comfortable in use and prevent irritation and soreness of the portion of the arm and body of the user which comes in contact therewith. It is also evident that the .hollow body 8 may be inflated from time to time by attaching a tire or other pump to the hollow valve casing 12.

terial and havingthe material forming the end walls increased .in thickness to provide solid reinforced ends, flexible clamping straps positioned about the solid ends of said cushion and the ends of said headmeans for drawing the ends of each strap together to clamp the cushion in position upon the head, and a check valve connected With said cushion.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my'signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ALVAI-I Gr. LINEBACK.

Witnesses l ALBERT N. MINTON, GEO. WV. WRIGHT. 

